Scrap of papyrus makes explicit reference to Jesus having a wife

[Mubashir]

An ancient scrap of papyrus makes explicit reference to Jesus having a wife, according to a renowned expert in Christian history.

Harvard divinity professor Karen King unveiled the 4th-Century Coptic script at a conference in Rome.

She said researchers had identified the words "Jesus said to them, 'my wife'", which might refer to Mary Magdalene.

Christian tradition holds that Jesus did not marry - but Ms King said in early years it was subject to debate.

The provocative find could spark debate over celibacy and the role of women within Christianity, she added.

But the announcement sparked scepticism from some theologians.

Jim West, a professor and Baptist pastor in Tennessee, said: "A statement on a papyrus fragment isn't proof of anything. It's nothing more than a statement 'in thin air', without substantial context."

Ms King said the fragment, written in ancient Egyptian Coptic, is the first known scripture in which Jesus is reported to cite his wife.

She said several experts agree the yellowish brown papyrus is authentic, but that "final judgment on the fragment depends on further examination by colleagues and further testing, especially of the chemical composition of the ink".

'Worthy disciple'

A video filmed by Harvard University reveals experts were "sceptical" before examining the ancient scrap of papyrus
Although the script is not proof of Jesus's marital status, Ms King said it revealed concerns early Christians faced with regards to family and marriage matters.

"This fragment suggests that some early Christians had a tradition that Jesus was married," she said.

"From the very beginning, Christians disagreed about whether it was better not to marry, but it was over a century after Jesus's death before they began appealing to Jesus's marital status to support their positions.

"What this shows is that there were early Christians for whom sexual union in marriage could be an imitation of God's creativity and generativity and it could be spiritually proper and appropriate."

According to Ms King's research team, the text also quotes Jesus as telling his followers that Mary Magdalene is worthy of being his disciple.

This, in turn, casts new doubt on the long-held belief that Jesus had no female disciples, and raises issues about Mary's biblical role as a sinner, they said.

Ms King presented the document at a six-day conference held at Rome's La Sapienza University and at the Augustinianum institute of the Pontifical Lateran University.

The faded papyrus is hardly bigger than a business card and has eight lines on one side, in black ink legible under a magnifying glass.

The private collector, who owns the fragment, has asked to remain anonymous because "he doesn't want to be hounded by people who want to buy this", Ms King said.

Full Story at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19645273

[Truth Seeker]

Salaam Mubashir,

Yours is an interesting post! Thanks!

It also brings back a related discussion I had with Joseph some time ago. I asked a similar Q - more I remember leaning on some of the suggestions made by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I cut and paste Joseph's response to me which might be relevant to your post too and for other readers in his absence.


Salamun Alaikum,

From the point of view of the Quran, there would be nothing fantastic about Prophet Jesus having marital status.

013:038 (part)
"And certainly We sent Messengers before you, and We gave them wives and children..."

Please note the absence of any exceptions despite Prophet Jesus being well appreciated by the Quran to precede Prophet Muhammad's ministry.

Christianity certainly asserts a theological position with regards Prophet Jesus's ‘alleged’ Divinity and the overarching purpose of his mission. Hence, one could potentially argue many reasons why such testimonies 'could' have been curtailed in early Christendom ‘if’ there were any veracity to such claims.

Suffice to say from a Quranic perspective, such a proposition of Prophet Jesus's alleged marital status would not be problematic where no exception is indicated in the verse cited above (13:38). What such a proposition would mean for Christian theology however, is of course another matter.

However, it is useful to note that even the canonical Gospels have nothing to explicitly state about Prophet Jesus's marital status. They don't confirm it and neither can it be argued, do they explicitly contest it regardless of any theological inferences that can be potentially drawn.

Renouncing worldly pursuits including abstinence for marriage for the purpose of monolithic spiritual devotion is not an institution supported by the Quran as an 'Islamic' practice. It has never been ordained by God as a requisite practice for His servants. Therefore, there are also no grounds to relate ‘absolute’ piety with such an abstinence from worldly pursuits including marriage and wider procreation.

 "...But monasticism they innovated, We did not prescribe it for them ..." (57:27 part).

I hope that helps, God willing.

Joseph.